Kfustud's Thoughts and Experiences
by Kfustud on Aug 15, 2009 10:46 AM MDT
Email
Print
My thoughts on the first game. First of all: yes there is learning and improvement necessary for this team. I think most of the plays we didn't like weren't the result of bad personnel but misreads, blown assignments, and learning pains. This is what I would expect. I think it is very clear that at least compared to San Francisco our overall level of talent in Denver is better than their level of talent. I also think that our schemes looked superior overall.
I have done some tough simulation training in my life. I failed a lot and it drove me nuts because I knew I was better than the guys who were passing. Looking back on it now though I laugh at my reactions and my foolishness.
You see I would go into a simulator and my instructors would throw the book at me. Power failure here, computer failure here, backup failure, emergency procedure, random questions at inopportune times. Eventually I would crack and fail and get all ticked. Then I would sit and watch another person get in and the whole simulation went off by the book. Easy error overcome, objective accomplished, pass.
At that time I figured I was going to wash out but you know what? It turned out they threw the book at me because they thought I was good. Because I was better than the other guys I watched. Looking back on it I should have known but it wasn't hitting me then.
I was reminded of these experiences in my life last night. I saw Kyle Orton come out and the coach threw the book at him. Every play was a new formation, new personnel. The defense for SF was blown away, the announcers were blown away, and so was Kyle Orton. He failed.
What got me was when Simms took the field it was a much different story. We saw fairly simple, in football terms and to me, straightforward plays. Consistent personnel. They looked good and so did he.
So, what I learned was Orton doesn't have the offense down at the high difficulty setting, but at medium difficulty, like Simms, I bet he could run it. I just wanted to share my experience and observations. Maybe it will make you optimistic, don't get me wrong, last night brought back feelings of the worst parts of the last few years. However, I am looking for Orton to not make these mistakes again. I am looking for him to learn.
(Before you ask McGeorge, Yes it makes me feel better to think like this)
Overall I loved the schemes I saw, I like the Defense and as a side note people were always saying how they saw Defensive penetration in camp and were concerned about the offense. Well it looks like our offensive line is fine our defense is just able to create penetration. This could be very good. It makes me feel good about our coaching.
Still, Lots of room for improvement.
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
22 comments
|
13 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Good one KF
As a guy that projected Orton to do quite well in this offense, you can imagine I am a bit shaken today, but it is good to read something like this. I hope you are right. It was quite clear Orton saw a lot of different sets compared to Sims.
If Orton can't get it together
then I bet the coaches will tone it down during the season. We will probably still have an effective if not superhuman offense.
And I bet McDaniel’s will keep looking for a QB. He has a scheme he wants to run.
Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.
More love from the MHR faithful. All these shout outs make me blush.
Orton’s lack of accuracy was alarming. I rewatched the game and 8 of his 17 passes were off target. The guy’s career completion % is around 55%.
More practice will help the decision making and more game action should correct the happy feet. But accuracy is something you have or you don’t. I’m far from sold that Orton can be accurate enough to be a good QB for Denver. The fact that he just crumbed to pieces after the first pick makes me question his leadership ability and focus.
And his catchable ball (code word there) is also catchable for DBs. If he threw harder, Clements would have never made that pick in the endzone.
Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.
Orton lost last night’s game entirely by himself. Not that I care about pre season (Detroit went 4-0 last preseason), but Denver was the better team (by quite a bit) last night and still lost. A loss than can be put entirely on Orton’s play.
Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.
Two posts already huh, I'm blushing.
My guess is that if Orton or Simms or you or me could run that offense that we saw in the first half correctly we would be a top 5 offense in the NFL. If nobody can then we are looking at a top 15 offense in the NFL, like last year.
The fact that there can be such a change from the first to second half in terms of scheme makes me believe that the coaches will go with what they have. Consider this, first half scheme was 2007 New England, second half scheme was 2008 New England.
Maybe Denver is going to be somewhere in the middle. If this was a real game and we had driven the entire field like the first drive I see them punching it in with Jordan or Hillis or someone.
Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.
Even Jamie Dukes had something good to say
At half time on the NFLN Dukes looked like a Bronco Moderate and was not blasting Orton or McDaniels. His worst comment was that it couldn’t get much worse for Orton. Chill out McGeorge the offense will be a work in progress for much of the preseason but look for things to get better from the in game learning curve.
by maritimebronco on Aug 15, 2009 11:44 AM MDT reply actions
Degree of Difficulty
I’m in total agreement with your observations, Kfustud. McDaniels will continue to throw the book at Orton, & Orton will respond.The training wheels have been removed from the offense. There will be plenty of falls & wounds. Right now, Kyle is just an ole lump o coal,but as Mcd continues to ratchet up the pressure, he’s going to turn into a Diamond someday. My gut instincts tell me that Orton will reach the high level of expectations that Coach is demanding by Opening Day. Thanks for the personal insight, & rec’d.
"He can take his'n n beat your'n, or he can take your'n n beat his'n." Florida A&M Coach Jake Gaither on Alabama Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.
Nice job Kfustud
and rec’d. I enjoyed reading about your simulation training and how it relates to what Orton went through. He was gracious in defeat, but he looked like he was in shock over his level of play. Things definitely snowballed on him. He’s a tough kid and will bounce back in Seattle.
very well said Kfustud . If you know Orton can do the medium difficult stuff you use this time to get him reps with the high difficulty stuff so that you can go over it on tape and so that your opponent in the regular season have to game plan for it.Its better to do this now and get the game film now while you have 4 weeks of hardcore practice left than to say hey lets make Orton look good with the vanilla stuff and appease the masses.
All true.
Still, Orton has to get comfortable with the time he has to throw. I believe that when the reads become second nature, and when the chemistry is firmly established between he and the receivers, the rest will take care of itself.
Orton’s history is that he doesn’t throw picks. Don’t listen to those who try to sell you on his career stats: he was thrust into the starting job as a rookie by necessity, and it was during that time where his stats were clearly sub-par.
Too, don’t let those people who like to go on about how he was beaten out by Grossman and Greise get inside your heads: Grossman was a first round pick, and the Bears were going to give him every opportunity to secure the job. Ultimately, Orton beat Grossman out once the competition was really open.
JeffG is correct
That is exactly Orton’s history with picks and how it went down in Chicago. Kyle will come on strong and prove the many critics dead wrong.
Orton’s career TD to INT ratio is 30/27.
His 2008 TD to INT ratio was 18/12.
His career completion % is 55%
His 2008 completion % was 58.4%.
Those are the facts. Interpret them however you wish.
Maybe Jeff G sees the next Montana. I guess I don’t.
Love the Broncos, don't like their Coach.
where did he say that Orton as the next Montana ? It seems the only way for some people to try and get their point across if just to make up stuff .
You already claimed that Orton lost the game last night by himself but what football without some agenda is posting this stuff after the first preseason game ?
Top end for Orton/Cutler
If Cutler lives up to all of his potential, he could be Brett Favre. Gunslinger, great stats, will pull win out of his ear and sometimes a loss out of his rear.
If Orton lives up to all of his potential, he could be Joe Montana. Cool, collected, playing within a system and excelling.
About Ortons Stats...
In looking at Orton’s stats year over year, you see improvement in every category; Completion Pct, Avg YPC, YPG, TD Pct and QB Rating. All of this with an offense that relied heavily on the run since they really didn’t have quality receivers. Given the quality of receivers that the Broncos have and an offensive line that is IMHO, the best in the league, it’s simply a matter of time (and I don’t believe long) before Orton learns that he can trust his teammates. He’ll settle down and when he does, I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do. As others have pointed out, this was a game in which McD threw the book at him to see where he was at. Well, now he knows and with the 4 weeks remaining until the regular season starts, I think that McD should continue to do so. It can only help Orton improve since he clearly is a competitor (as can be seen by his taking of the starting role from Grossman). Earlier, you mentioned that you can’t coach accuracy, you can only coach mechanics. However, it’s reasonable to state that if you improve the mechanics, the accuracy will improve too (it’s a natural progression). Give it a chance. I’m certain that it will work itself out.
Go Broncos!
In football if you stand still you go backwards. - Peter Reid
by kaclinbroncofan on Aug 15, 2009 5:51 PM MDT up reply actions
We'll Find Out
If you asked me if I thought Orton could lead an offense that puts up more points than we did last year I would say yes.
If you asked me right now if he could lead the offense that McDaniels has playing out in his mind… “ask again later”
Tis better not to throw it to the deep receiver but the open receiver.
Excellent comparison
Coach McD knows that Orton can make every throw in this offense as he has stated before. Coach knows that if he babies Kyle he will progress slower than if he pushes him hard and that’s exactly what he is doing. McD will pull the reigns back for the regular season (or first check ride;-) if need be, but we have three more weeks to see if that will be necessary.
Nicely put Kfustud
"You give 100 percent in the first half of the game, and if that isn't enough, in the second half you give what's left." – Yogi Berra
"No, I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space."
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Getting Social With MHR
Web Stuff
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
